Coursers and Pratincoles (Glareolidae)

Collared Pratincole (Glareola pratincola) - HBW 3, p. 381

French: Glaréole à collier German: Rotflügel-Brachschwalbe Spanish: Canastera Común
Other common names: Red-winged/Common Pratincole, Swallow-plover

Taxonomy: Hirundo Pratincola Linnaeus, 1766, Austria.
Forms superspecies with G. maldivarum and G. nordmanni, although range overlap with latter leads some authorities to exclude that species from the superspecies. Formerly considered to include G. maldivarum, and even on occasion G. nordmanni, as races. Has hybridized with G. nordmanni. Possible race boweni of W Africa included in fuelleborni; form “limbata”, described from Red Sea coasts, appears to be erroneous. Species has on occasion been regarded as monotypic. Three subspecies normally recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution:

pratincola (Linnaeus, 1766) - S Europe to Pakistan; winters in sub-Saharan Africa, N of 5° N.
erlangeri Neumann, 1920 - coastal plains of S Somalia and N Kenya.
fuelleborni Neumann, 1910 - Senegal E to S Kenya and S to Zaire, Namibia and E South Africa.